Barrier connection

ABSTRACT

A barrier connector for a concrete structure includes a base plate having a plurality of spaced apart openings. A plurality of anchor bolts is disposed through respective ones of the plurality of openings. Each of the anchor bolts has a feature at one longitudinal end extending away from a longitudinal axis of the anchor bolt. A lock nut disposed on a threaded portion of each anchor bolt on one side of the base plate. A threaded coupling is attached to the threaded portion of each anchor bolt on an opposed side of the base plate to the anchor nut, wherein the anchor bolts are affixed to the base plate without welding.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Priority is claimed from U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/183,959 filed on May 4, 2021. The foregoing application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to the field of concrete and cable/tendon safety barriers. More particularly, the disclosure relates to connectors for anchoring wire, cable or rod type barriers in a concrete structure.

Vehicle and pedestrian safety barriers used, for example, in parking structures function to restrain vehicles from breaching the structure perimeter and the edge of ramps from one level to another. Additionally, these barriers serve to impede pedestrians from passing through and falling. The barriers used in such systems may be cables, rods or wire. In order to perform the function of a barrier, the connections between barriers and certain structural elements (e.g., columns, walls, posts and the like) must resist tensile and impact forces from vehicles that contact the barrier, and must also comply with building code requirements related to minimum height, size of openings, and critical spacing.

When such connections, spacings and heights are established at the site of construction by site labor, they are susceptible to errors in measurement and workmanship that can result in a vehicle engaging a deficient portion of the barrier elements, a person being able to fall over or pass through the barrier, and insufficient structural connections, thereby allowing a vehicle to penetrate the barrier.

Representative barrier connections known in the art are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,194,155, Barrier Cable Anchor Rail, Nov. 24, 2015, issued to Landry, U.S. Pat. No. 9,644,392, Barrier Cable Anchor Rail, May 9, 2017, issued to Landry, U.S. Pat. No. 8,713,894, System and Method for Barrier Cable Embed Alignment May 6, 2014, issued to Viereck, Price and U.S. Pat. No. 6,578,342, Barrier Cable End Bracket Assembly, Jun. 17, 2003, issued to Faynor.

The connections shown in the Landry '155, Landry '392, and Viereck '894 patents require welding, and are therefore subject to weakening of the metal connection components as a result of the heat applied during welding.

The connection disclosed in the Viereck '894 patent does not allow free rotation of the connecting components relative to the cables attached to such components. The device shown in Viereck requires rotating the entire length of barrier cable in order to engage the connecting component. This complicates the installation and increases the likelihood of insufficient connections or being susceptible to poor workmanship on site.

The connections shown in the Landry '155 and '392 patents may require expensive, machined threaded receptacles, multiple vertical supports, and associated welds at each of a number of contact points.

The connections shown in the Landry '155, Landry '392, and Viereck '894 patents may not have adaptability to any degree of incline and/or decline of parking structure ramps relative to level and plumb columns and walls in which the connection is imbedded.

The connections shown in the Viereck '894 patent may require pre-anchoring of the barrier (e.g., cable) element to the male threaded barrel anchor, which interferes with proper and complete connection.

The connection shown in the Viereck '894 patent may not allow a vertical flat bar to be recessed back into a column or wall, thus requiring a large metallic surface exposure, which may require extra maintenance and be susceptible to corrosion.

The connectors shown in the Landry '155 and '392 patents may have less precise spacing and alignment inherent in the manufacturing methods used by the two systems (preset holes punched into the flat bar as opposed to manual spacing and alignment of multiple vertical bars and manual welding to ferrule inserts).

The barrier connection shown in the Faynor '342 patent may have exposed metal components external to columns and walls, and the associated corrosion and maintenance. Additionally, Faynor's design relies upon clamping force, as well as bending and shear resistance which requires even more massive elements.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure is a barrier connector for a concrete structure. A barrier connector according to this aspect includes a base plate having a plurality of spaced apart openings. A plurality of anchor bolts is disposed through respective ones of the plurality of openings. Each of the anchor bolts has a feature at one longitudinal end extending away from a longitudinal axis of the anchor bolt. A lock nut disposed on a threaded portion of each anchor bolt on one side of the base plate. A threaded coupling is attached to the threaded portion of each anchor bolt on an opposed side of the base plate to the anchor nut, wherein the anchor bolts are affixed to the base plate without welding.

In some embodiments, the features comprise at least one of L-extensions, J-extensions, corkscrews and closed eyes.

Some embodiments further comprise an adjustable anchor threadedly coupled to each of the threaded couplings. Each adjustable anchor comprises a threaded connection and a gripping coupling for receiving a barrier element. The barrier element comprises at least one of a cable, a strand tendon, wire and a rod.

A method for connecting a barrier to a concrete structure according to another aspect of this disclosure includes placing a barrier connector in uncured concrete for the concrete structure. The barrier connector comprises a base plate having a plurality of spaced apart openings, a plurality of anchor bolts disposed through respective ones of the plurality of openings, each of the anchor bolts having a feature at one longitudinal end extending away from a longitudinal axis of the anchor bolt, a lock nut disposed on a threaded portion of each anchor bolt on one side of the base plate, and a threaded coupling attached to the threaded portion of each anchor bolt on an opposed side of the base plate to the lock nut, wherein the anchor bolts are affixed to the base plate without welding. The uncured concrete is allowed to cure. An adjustable anchor is inserted into each of the threaded couplings. A barrier element is attached to each of the adjustable anchors. Each of the adjustable anchors is adjusted to impart a predetermined stress on each barrier element.

In some embodiments, the features comprise at least one of L-extensions, J-extensions, corkscrews and closed eyes.

In some embodiments, the barrier element comprises at least one of a cable, a strand tendon, wire and a rod.

Other aspects and possible advantages will be apparent from the description and claims that follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of an example embodiment of a barrier connection according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows an end view of the example embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged end view of part of the barrier connection of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of part of the barrier connection of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows the example embodiment of FIG. 1 as cast into a concrete structure.

FIG. 6 shows an opposed end view to that of FIG. 2 wherein the barrier connector is cast into the concrete structure of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows an enlarged, exploded partial view as in FIG. 5 to illustrate assembly of an adjustable barrier anchor to the barrier connector.

FIG. 8 shows the adjustable anchor of FIG. 7 as assembled to the barrier connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A barrier connection according to the present disclosure may comprise an assembly including a flat metal or other high strength material bar (base plate) having pre-spaced, pre-formed holes (e.g., four inches on center), threaded couplers, locking nuts, and high-strength anchor bolts extending through the pre-spaced holes. The high-strength anchor bolts may be of various shapes such as L-shaped, hooked, looped, or otherwise having one or more features extending away from the longitudinal axis of the anchor bolt in order to maximize the strength of the connection between the anchor bolts and a concrete structure such as a column or wall. The complete assembly may be produced in a controlled factory environment, and constructed so that spacings between adjacent anchor bolts and protrusion length of the anchor bolts from the base plate cannot be easily altered in the field.

The assembly can be cast into a concrete structure such as a column, thereby providing consistent, proper spacing, correct height, and ample structural connection of barrier elements (e.g., wires, cables or rods) to the concrete structure. The angle of the connection may be altered, for example, by means of wedge washers attached between the anchor bolts and the base plate to accommodate an angle subtended between floor-to-floor ramps and plumb columns and/or walls in any concrete structure. Various types of threaded strand anchors may be attached to the barrier connection allowing the barrier elements to be extended through the concrete structure and be anchored to a terminal column or wall by the same means.

FIG. 1 shows an example embodiment of a barrier connector 10 according to the present disclosure. The barrier connector 10 may comprise an elongated base plate 12, which may be right rectangular or any other convenient shape for assembly thereto of a plurality of anchor bolts 14, lock nuts 16 and threaded couplings 18. The base plate 12 may be made from steel or other high strength material and may have formed therein a plurality of spaced apart openings (not shown separately) for insertion of corresponding ones of the anchor bolts 12. The openings (not shown separately) may be formed by punching, machining, or any other known process. The base plate 12 may have thickness (dimension perpendicular to the elongated plane of the base plate 12) chosen to provide the necessary structural strength to retain barriers (not shown in the figures) to their required load capability when affixed to the barrier connector 10.

The anchor bolts 14 may be made from steel or other high strength material and may be externally threaded along a predetermined length from one longitudinal end for threaded engagement with corresponding threaded couplings 16. In the present example embodiment, the threaded couplings 16 may be internally threaded and have a tool engaging feature, e.g., wrench flats, on the exterior surface. Although not a limitation on the present disclosure, internal threading on the threaded couplings 16 and external threading on the anchor bolts 14 may facilitate assembly of the barrier connector 10 adjustable anchors (see FIGS. 5 through 8) when the barrier connector 10 is cast into a concrete structure.

The anchor bolts 14 may be threadedly inserted into the corresponding ones of the threaded couplings 16 disposed on the side of the base plate 12 opposite to the side of entry of the anchor bolts 14 through the base plate 12 as shown in FIG. 1. Corresponding lock nuts 18 may be threaded onto the anchor bolts 14 prior to their insertion into the base plate 12 so that the anchor bolts 12 may be locked in place into the corresponding threaded couplings 16. The lock nuts 18 and threaded couplings 16 may be further held into threaded engagement using, for example, thread locking compound, such as one sold under the trademark LOCTITE, which is a registered trademark of Henkel IP & Holding GmbH, Dusseldorf, Germany.

FIG. 2 shows an end view of the example embodiment of FIG. 1, wherein may be observed on each anchor bolt 14 an off axis feature 14A. The off axis feature 14A may be any shaped device that projects the anchor bolts 14 in a direction not along the longitudinal axis of the anchor bolts 14. Non-limiting examples of the off axis feature 14A may include hooks, L-extensions, J-extensions, corkscrews or the like such that when the anchor bolts 14 are cast into a concrete structure, forces acting on the anchor bolts 14 will be effectively transferred to the concrete structure, as will be further explained with reference to FIG. 5. In the present example embodiment, the off axis features 14A may be L-extensions, and may be oriented in different or opposed directions among the anchor bolts 14 as shown in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show, respectively, enlarged views of parts of the barrier connection 10 shown in FIGS. 2 and 1, to illustrate that a washer 17 may be provided between each of the lock nuts 16 and the base plate 12 on either or both sides of the base plate 12 to better distribute load transfer between the anchor bolts 14 and the base plate 12.

The base plate 12, anchor bolts 14, lock nuts 16 and threaded couplings 18 may be pre-assembled into a barrier connection 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 prior to placement in a concrete structure. In some embodiments, the foregoing components may be assembled using thread locking compound to resist partial or total disassembly of the barrier connection 10.

Referring to FIG. 5, the barrier connection 10 may be held in place using any convenient fixture prior to pouring concrete to form a concrete structure 20 such as a wall, column or post. FIG. 6 shows the concrete structure 20 and barrier connection 10 of FIG. 6 in end view, to illustrate that the openings in the threaded couplings 18 may be exposed to the side of the concrete structure 20. Referring back to FIG. 5, the exposed openings of the threaded couplings 18 may accept a threaded extension on a corresponding adjustable anchor 22. The adjustable anchors 22 may be any type known in the art for retaining a wire, cable, rod or other tendon type barrier. The adjustable anchors 22 may be assembled to the barrier connector 10 after curing of the concrete structure 20 and removal of any form board (not shown) used to mold the concrete during cure.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show, respectively, one of the adjustable anchors 22 prior to (FIG. 7) and after (FIG. 8) threaded engagement of a threaded connector 22A on the adjustable anchor 22 with the respective threaded coupling 18. The adjustable anchors 22 may have inserted into them prior to final assembly respective barriers (not shown) such that the adjustable anchors 22 may thereafter be threaded to a position with respect to the barrier connection 10 to establish the required amount of tension on the respective barriers (not shown).

A barrier connection according to the present disclosure provides a weld-free solution. Welding is known to compromise the strength of the base plate material and may require extensive welding controls to limit heat softening and crystallization of the metal. Other systems require welding of inserts to reinforcing bars, welding threaded receptacles to flat bar, welding inserts to headed studs, or combinations thereof. Further, a barrier connector according to the present disclosure may allow for greater angularity of the assembly than other available systems, reducing shear stresses within the barrier connection. The barrier connection discloser herein may provide a more effective connection with longer threaded engagement than some available systems. The disclosed barrier connection allows free rotation of the connections relative to the barrier elements which aids in efficient installation. The disclosed barrier connection may uniquely accommodate inclines and declines in a concrete structure with angled spacers pre-assembled with the anchor bolts. Additionally, the disclosed barrier connection allows ease of installation with fewer vertical elements that can conflict with structural reinforcement.

In light of the principles and example embodiments described and illustrated herein, it will be recognized that the example embodiments can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. The foregoing discussion has focused on specific embodiments, but other configurations are also contemplated. In particular, even though expressions such as in “an embodiment,” or the like are used herein, these phrases are meant to generally reference embodiment possibilities, and are not intended to limit the disclosure to particular embodiment configurations. As used herein, these terms may reference the same or different embodiments that are combinable into other embodiments. As a rule, any embodiment referenced herein is freely combinable with any one or more of the other embodiments referenced herein, and any number of features of different embodiments are combinable with one another, unless indicated otherwise. Although only a few examples have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible within the scope of the described examples. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A barrier connector for a concrete structure, comprising: a base plate having a plurality of spaced apart openings; a plurality of anchor bolts disposed through respective ones of the plurality of openings, each of the anchor bolts having a feature at one longitudinal end extending away from a longitudinal axis of the anchor bolt; a lock nut disposed on a threaded portion of each anchor bolt on one side of the base plate; and a threaded coupling attached to the threaded portion of each anchor bolt on an opposed side of the base plate to the lock nut, wherein the anchor bolts are affixed to the base plate without welding.
 2. The barrier connector of claim 1 wherein the features comprise at least one of L-extensions, J-extensions, corkscrews and closed eyes.
 3. The barrier connector of claim 1 further comprising an adjustable anchor threadedly coupled to each of the threaded couplings, each adjustable anchor comprising a threaded connection and a gripping coupling for receiving a barrier element, the barrier element comprising at least one of a cable, a strand tendon, wire and a rod.
 4. A method for connecting a barrier to a concrete structure, comprising: placing a barrier connector in uncured concrete for the concrete structure, the barrier connector comprising a base plate having a plurality of spaced apart openings, a plurality of anchor bolts disposed through respective ones of the plurality of openings, each of the anchor bolts having a feature at one longitudinal end extending away from a longitudinal axis of the anchor bolt, a lock nut disposed on a threaded portion of each anchor bolt on one side of the base plate, and a threaded coupling attached to the threaded portion of each anchor bolt on an opposed side of the base plate to the lock nut, wherein the anchor bolts are affixed to the base plate without welding; allowing the uncured concrete to cure; coupling an adjustable anchor into each of the threaded couplings; attaching a barrier element to each of the adjustable anchors; and adjusting each of the adjustable anchors to impart a predetermined stress on each barrier element.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the features comprise at least one of L-extensions, J-extensions, corkscrews and closed eyes.
 6. The method of claim 4 wherein the barrier element comprises at least one of a cable, a strand tendon, wire and a rod. 